Four Top Discoveries of Archaeology That Back The Bible

"Thousands of archaeological discoveries line up perfectly with the Bible. Here are our favorites." - by Robert Harman

Caiaphas’ bones.

In 1990, a bulldozer was working to create a water park in Jerusalem when it opened a hole in the ceiling of a hidden burial chamber. Upon lowering a light 20 feet down, the workers saw ossuaries, stone bone-boxes -- a way people were buried only from 30 B.C. to 70 A.D.

One ossuary in particular was of interest because it was expensively ornamented with rosettes carved in the stone.

“Inside, archaeologists found 12 limestone ossuaries. One contained the bones of a 60-year-old man and bore the inscription Yehosef bar Qayafa-- “Joseph, son of Caiaphas.” Experts believe these remains are probably those of Caiaphas the high priest of Jerusalem, who according to the Gospels ordered the arrest of Jesus, interrogated him, and handed him over to Pontius Pilate for execution.”

The Pontius Pilate stone.

For many years some skeptics of the Bible mocked the idea that Pontius Pilate existed. They said he was a fictional invention, a “bad guy” needed for dramatic effect. Nothing outside the Bible accounts had been discovered to confirm that this man Pontius Pilate was an actual person.

Until 1961.

In that year, excavations at Caesarea, Judea’s ancient capital during the Roman occupation, uncovered a cornerstone with the inscription:

“Pontius Pilate, the Prefect of Judea…”

Some doubted his existence.

Then a cornerstone was unearthed with his name chiseled into it!

[By BRBurton - Own work, CC0]

The House of David stone monument.

A team of archaeologists from Hebrew Union College was excavating the city of Dan in northern Galilee. They unearthed a basalt stone with Aramaic letters etched into its smooth surface. The monument, from the ninth century B.C., commemorated a victory of the king of Damascus over “the king of Israel” and “the house of David.”

The mention of David was a historical bombshell.

Never before had King David’s name been found in any records outside the Bible. This led skeptics, again, to propose that he was a fictional “hero” character.

An invention who fought a giant with just a sling and stone.

Now his name appeared, not in the Bible. It was written in stone by an ancient enemy.

Sea of Galilee Fishing Boat.

Have you ever wondered (I have!) about the story of Jesus sleeping in a boat while a storm raged on the Sea of Galilee? How could Jesus sleep with waves breaking over the boat, splashing in his face?

The answer came when a first-century fishing boat was uncovered from the mud of the Sea of Galilee.

The boat was 27 feet by 7 feet and the stern is covered over with a platform for the steersman to stand on. Under the platform, the ballast bag would be kept – referred to in the gospel story as “the cushion.” On a similar cushion, under the protection of the platform, Jesus slept!

There are literally thousands of other examples! Has any discovery disproved the Bible?

Not even one!

Famous Jewish archaeologist Nelson Glueck summed it up: “It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever contradicted a biblical reference.”

Is the Bible true?

Archaeology says yes!

In four related articles, I briefly look at other evidence that supports the Bible. I hope you enjoy them!